Velocipede



(Nb Model.)

G. N. SPENCER.

VELOGIPEDE.

No. 270,913. Patented Jam-23, 1883.

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UNITED STAT S {PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE N. SPENCER, OF THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,913, dated January 23, 1883.

Application filed November 3, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. SPENCER, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Three Rivers, county of St. Joseph, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Velocipede, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a velocipede with propelling mechanism of a nature that will greatly facilitate the operation and speed. To this end I employ parts having but little friction, and I so construct and arrange them in relation to the frame and traction-wheels ofa velocipede that I command the use of the feet, hands, and weightof the operator.

In the drawings forming apart of this speciflcation, Figure l is a side elevation Fig. 2, a top view,partlyin perspective; Figs. 3, 4, and 5, detached parts enlarged, and Fig.6 a diametrical section of the pulley in Fig.

F F are the propelling-wheels, secured at either end of the revoluble axle H, said axle having hearings in beams B B of the frame.

a a are two hollow pulleys, centrally located on axle H, with a disk, m, between them. This disk has a ratchetsurface on both sides, and is rigidly secured to'axle H by a pin through hole S. Each pulley a a is providedinternally with a spring, B, one end of which is secured to thimble k, Figs.'5, 6. These thimbles are held stationary by the side braces, d d, and the pulleys a revolve around and the axle H revolves in said thimbles. The pulleys a a, on the side next to the disk on, are provided with asuitable pawl,J, forengagement with ratchetdisk m. Strap lis secured to the periphery of one of the pulleys a a-the right-hand one in theillustrations-andtheotherend ofsaid strap is secured to the front end of the seat-lever D. The other end of leverDis hinged to the frame. Strapfis secured to the periphery of the lefthand pulley, passes thence rearwardly' over pulley-wheel c, and then downwardly, connecting with the foot-lever n.

L is a rocking shaft, having hearings in the sides B B of the frame, at the forward end of the device.

h is a standard, revolubly located in the rocking shaft L and cross-bar 2', and is provided at the top with a handle, It h.

The foot-levers n and n pass up through the hinged to the rod which supports pulley c, and

is pivotally connected with seat-lever D in slot 0.

The seat S is supported in an elevated position above the frame B B by rod 9, pivotally connecting with said seat and with the seatle ver D, and by rods I) b, which are pivoted to the frame at w a.

In the operation ofthe propelling mechanism, the operator, sitting on the seat S, with his feet on stirrups c c,rocks shaft Ltoward him by pullingon the handles it h, and assisting the movement by pressing down with his feet. This causes seat-lever D to rise, which raises seat S, slackens strap l, and pulls down on strap f, the latter of which revolves the leftha-nd pulley a, ratchet-disk m, and axle Hforward. At this time spring R of the right-hand pulley has caused said pulley to revolve rearwardly on thimble k sufficiently to wind up the slack of strap 1. his feet from the stirrups e e, rocks the shaft L forward, while his weight on seat S assists in lowering the seat-lever D, which operation draws down on strap 1 and slackens strap f. This in turn continues the revolution of axle H, as the right-hand pulley now revolves forward, and the left-hand pulley is revolved rearwardly by its spring R in winding uptheslaok of strap f.

The pawls J are so arranged in relation to the pulleys a a and ratchet-disk m as to admit of the alternate adverse revolutions of said pulleys in propelling axle H and taking up the slack of the straps, as above set forth.

In order to control the guide-wheel E by the same handle with which the rocking shaftL is operated, and not have the connecting means interfere with the operator and other mechanism, I have provided two pulleys-one, c, on the lower end of standard It, and one, a, connecting with a revoluble standard, 4; P is a rope or belt located in a groove around said pulleys c and 0'9 Connecting pivoialy with a crank at the upper end of standard 1', and

The operator then removes with a crank, 9 of swivel u, is a connectingrod, 00. By this means the guidewheel is readily controlled by the handles h h during the operation of propelling the vehicle by said handles.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a velocipede, the combination, with the rocking shaft provided with the foot-levers, and the vertically-playing seat and its lever, of the Wheel-axle provided with the axle-pulleys, and the straps connecting respectively with the axle-pulleys and with the foot and seat levers, all substantially as set forth.

2. Inavelocipede, the combination, with the rocking shaft and vertically-playing seat, of the axle-pulleys adapted to automatically and alternately revolve in taking up the slack of the straps,'the straps connecting v'rith said pulleys at one end, and levers connecting their opposite ends with the rocking shaft and seat in a manner to alternately pull down on said straps, substantially in the manner specified.

3. The combination, with the hollow pulleys provided with springs secured to the thimble, of the revoluble axle and the pawls, all substantially as described and shown.

4. In aveloeipede, the combination, with the revoluble handle to the rocking shaft provided with the pulley, of the guide-wheel provided with the crank, the pulley at the corner of. the frame provided with a crank, the rod pivotally connecting said cranks, and the belt connecting said pulleys, all substantially as set forth.

GEORGE N. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

FRANK 0. Guam, I. L. WEST. 

